Transport of liquids using superhydrophobic aerogels

The experimental results of the studies on the transportation of water droplets on a superhydrophobic silica aerogel-powder-coated surface are reported. The superhydrophobic silica aerogels were prepared using sol-gel processing of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) precursor, methanol (MeOH) solvent, and base (NH4OH)-catalyzed water followed by supercritical drying using methanol solvent. The molar ratio of NH4OH/MTMS, H2O/MTMS, and MeOH/MTMS were varied from 1.7x10(-1) to 3.5x10(-1), 2 to 8, and 1.7 to 14, respectively, to find out the best-quality aerogels in terms of higher hydrophobicity and high droplet velocity. A specially built device was used for the measurement of velocity of water droplet of size 2.8 mm (+/-0.2 mm) on an inclined surface coated with superhydrophobic aerogel powder. Liquid marbles were prepared by rolling water droplets on aerogel powder and the marble(s) velocities on a noncoated inclined surface were compared with that of the water droplets. It was observed that the microstructure of the aerogel affects the droplet as well as marble velocities considerably. For an aerogel with uniform and smaller particles, the water droplet and marble velocities were observed to be maximum, i.e., 144 and 123 cm/s, respectively, whereas for the aerogels with bigger and nonuniform particles, the water droplet and marble velocities were observed to be minimum, i.e., 92 and 82 cm/s, respectively. The results have been discussed by taking into account the contact angles and microstructural observations.     

Magnesium perchlorate as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of imines and phenylhydrazones

Magnesium perchlorate has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of imines and phenylhydrazones by the reaction of carbonyl compounds with amines and phenylhydrazine in high yields at room temperatures and in short times. The condensation of less electrophilic carbonyl compounds with poorly nucleophilic amines affords the imines in excellent yields.     

Novel Fluorinated Spiro [Indole-indazolyl-thiazolidine]-2,4′-diones: Design and Synthesis

The reaction of indol-2,3-diones ( 1a–i ) with 5-aminoindazole ( 2 ) has resulted in the formation of hitherto unknown 3-(indazol-5-yl)iminoindol-2-ones ( 3a–i ) in quantitative yields which, on 1,3-dipolar cyclocondensation with mercaptoacetic acid ( 4 ), has afforded a series of new spiro heterocycles, 3′-(indazol-5-yl) spiro[3H, indol-3, 2′ -thiazolidine]-2,4′-diones* ( 5a–i ).     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Screening of Some Novel Chromones and Pyrazoles with Incorporated Isoxazole Moieties

The title compounds 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h and 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d , 6e , 6f , 6g , 6h have been synthesized from β‐diketones and chromones, respectively, having 5‐methyl‐3‐phenylisoxazole moiety. Substituted 2‐acetylphenyl 5‐methyl‐3‐phenylisoxazole‐4‐carboxylate 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g , 3h were converted into 1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐(5‐methyl‐3‐phenylisoxazole‐4‐yl)propane‐1,3‐dione 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h by Baker–Venketaraman transformation. Further, the cyclodehydration of diketone 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h with glacial acetic acid in conc. HCl at reflux gave corresponding substituted 2‐(5‐methyl‐3‐phenylisoxazole‐4‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h . The corresponding 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h react with hydrazine hydrate in presence of glacial acetic acid in ethanol at reflux to furnish 2‐(5‐5(5‐methyl‐3‐phenylisoxazole‐4‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazole‐3‐yl)phenol 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d , 6e , 6f , 6g , 6h . The structures of all newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, mass spectral data, as well as elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds have been screened for their antimicrobial activity. Some of the compounds show better antimicrobial activity as compared with the reference drugs Streptomycin, Ampicillin, Gentamycin, Cefixime, and Ketoconazole.     

Synthesis of Some Novel bis‐Spiro[indole‐pyrazolinyl‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′‐diones

The reaction of 1H‐indol‐2,3‐diones with 1,6‐dibromohexane has resulted in the formation of new 1H‐indol‐2,3‐diones‐1,1′‐(1,6‐hexanediyl)bis in quantitative yields. These compounds have been used for the synthesis of novel [3′‐(2,3‐dimethyl‐5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐3‐pyrazolin‐4‐yl)spiro[3H‐indol‐3,2′‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′‐dione]‐1,1′‐(1,6‐hexanediyl)bis via bis Schiff's bases, [3‐(2,3‐dimethyl‐5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐3‐pyrazolin‐4‐yl) imino‐1H‐indol‐2‐one]‐1,1′‐(1,6‐hexanediyl)bis.     

Triphosgene: An Efficient Catalyst for Synthesis of Isothiocyanates

Isothiocyanates are bioactive molecules that show various biological activities such as antifungal and anathematic activities. They play a vital role in the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds. Various isothiocyanates were prepared in good to high yield using triphosgene.     

On nonoscillation of canonical or noncanonical disconjugate functional equations

Qualitative comparison of the nonoscillatory behavior of the equations

DABCO-mediated aza-Michael addition of 4-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles to cycloalkenones. Regioselective synthesis of disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles

Aza-Michael addition of 4-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles to 2-cycloalken-1-ones has been studied in the presence of DABCO as organic base. The reactions were carried out in acetonitrile at room temperature to provide 2,4-disubstituted 2H-1,2,3-triazoles as major adducts and 1,4-disubstituted 1H-1,2,3-triazoles as minor adducts. Though the reaction times are longer (4–8 days), the two regioisomers were separated by using column chromatography and the adducts were obtained in very good to excellent combined chemical yields. The electron-rich and electron-poor substituents on aryl moiety of 4-aryl-triazoles could tolerate the reaction conditions to afford the title adducts.     

Microwave resonant and zero-field absorption study of pure and doped ferrite nanoparticles

Microwave absorption was studied for magnetic nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄ (A) prepared by co-precipitation and Ni_0.35Cu_0.15Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (B) nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel combustion method at different temperature. In all cases only one ferromagnetic resonance line was observed which indicated that the materials were magnetically uniform. The linewidths were large mainly because of the wide variations in particle sizes, shapes and orientations. As expected, A type nanoparticles showed no absorption at zero-field. However, B type nanoparticles exhibited a sizable loss at a zero-field and the effect increases with the increase of reaction temperature. Mechanical crushing of the sample further enhanced the absorption.